Anyone using Galliots?

[Ben2]

I know some people weren't too happy with some of the Galliot models, but now I've painted up a couple of Hawkwood Galliots I think the miniatures are quite nice. However I have only seen Galliots used once in a game.

What do people think of the models, and are people using them in games?

 

[Stormrider]

If I recall, the Hazat Galliots are actually heavier armed than the Frigates, making them better at being frigates than frigates, but at a 50% price increase.

 

[godsgopher]

Unfortunately I have not had the chance to play many Noble Armada games, but the few I have seen and heard about seem to go too quickly to make boarding a major strategy. Also the Gallot seems to lightly defended to survive getting in close, it just sort of screams "Guess what I'm trying to do!" and draws fire.

 

[Ben2]

To be fair the one game I played with them in I shot up a destroyer as I closed, and toasted a galliot as it was boarding.

The low hull value means they just can't take concentrated firepower at short range. If you can flank using them or have a big juicy target, or get in someones rear arc, then you can board, but they don't have the guns to pound something into submission and then board it without getting blown up in return.

 

[miggel]

The Vuldrok galliot seems to be able to do the job. Armor 3 is quite hard to overcome by most ships up to cruiser level.

 

[Ben2]

Yeah, if the Hazat Galliot was hull 5 I wouldn't hesitate to use it. At hull 4 Galliots just don't survive in battles over 750 points, because 24 hits kills them, and a 750 point fleet can easily put that out in a round if it looks like a Galliot is actually going to board.

 

[Greg Smith]

It can often dpend on how much terrain is on the table. If there is plenty to conceal the galliot's approach, it can be easier to get it into contact.

Also a group of galliots can be an effective fire magnet, allowing the remainder of your ships to go unmolested.

 

[godsgopher]

That seems pretty reasonable way to use them, however at 120 points that's a pretty expensive fire magnet. Still nothing else seems to draw fire like they do. However I do agree the Vuldrok might just be the first race to actually have a working Gallot. Ill know I'll know in a month I guess when I get my fleet, I'm very exciting be the new ships I have to say.

 

[locarno24]

Have had a try (after raising the question on the board) using a swearwords-load of Kurgan galliots - mind you, they're a lot scarier as half their troop complement is in powered plate....

As suggested, you will lose about a third of them whilst closing, but a couple of them can sieze any ship going, and once they start latching on you can find yourself with massive force increases in a turn or two.

Best used against cruisers, I find. Dreadnoughts are the ideal but tend to be able to swat galliots without thinking and have enough gatling lasers to have a realistic chance of screwing up your grapnel fire. Plus they tend to have enough of a marine complement that you must have multiple boarders to be sure, even with galliots.

Frigates and raiders are hard to catch and almost not worth boarding (certainly given the amount of troops you expend compared to taking capital ships).

 

[Clanger]

I think the Hazat Galliot is a very good one with its impressive broadsides and Marauders.

Galliots are fire magnets for a reason. If you let one latch onto you it effectively reduces a use of a ship. Marauders are even better as they are hard to shift.

Also for a "cheap" Galliot the Hazat Scorpion is good with its impressive Troop compliment (add a Marauder or 2 or Elites with Heavy Armour).

 

[Ben2]

Add a couple of Marauders and it is only 20 points cheaper than a destroyer though, which is a lot more survivable and harder hitting.

 

[ultrajoe]

I have found that the galliot just takes too much fire to be helpful unless you take lots of them and go for a only enemy boarding tactic. 21 damage just does not live long with a hull 4. When they are going head first into the fire.

 

[godsgopher]

Ultrajoe that has been my experience as well, and I'm not convinced boarding is a valid enough tactic to build an entire fleet around it. Firepower seems preferable, sure a boarded ship is worth more, but you know what they say about a bird in the hand, vs. two in the bush.

 

[katadder]

richards al-marik boarding fleet did ok once he figured it out. ask LBH who lost 3 destroyers to them

 

[lastbesthope]

richards al-marik boarding fleet did ok once he figured it out. ask LBH who lost 3 destroyers to them

YEah, though that hard learned lesson came in handy against my Kurgan opponent in the next game.

LBH

 

[locarno24]

I'm not convinced boarding is a valid enough tactic to build an entire fleet around it. Firepower seems preferable, sure a boarded ship is worth more, but you know what they say about a bird in the hand, vs. two in the bush.

With any ship other than galliots, I'd agree - boarding is either an opportunistic thing, or else a way of 'giant-slaying' (a handful of smaller ships can still prove a threat to a dreadnought if they can drop their entire marine complements on it).

However, if that's your view (and it's a justifiable, understandable one), then galliots are not really for you. Putting one or two galliots in a fleet simply doesn't work because they're so easy to kill. Yes, they're a fire magnet but they're not a tough fire magnet compared to other things you could spend the points on.

If you do want to build a fleet around boarding actions, they become much more impressive.

Also, in some cases you really don't have much choice but to go boarding-heavy. See the previous comment about giant-slaying; I honestly don't see any realistic way that a Vuldrok Dreadnought with a Shielding Rune can be hurt by any Kurgan ship short of boarding them.

The Kurgan Sheerkhur and Vuldrok Froljir and Myrkwrym strike me as the three best for this sort of thing:

Froljirs are tougher simply because armour can't be bypassed or burnt out and are stupidly manouvrable. Admittedly they risk damaging their armour (because you will be using All Power To Engines! - it's a boarding fleet, after all), but a 5+ to lose one point of armour isn't the end of the world - I doubt it'll take you more than two turns to close or there's something seriously wrong going on. They also have an extra grapnel gun on the flanks, giving you some insurance against ham-fistedness preventing boarding actions.

You shouldn't overlook the Mrykwyrm in a boarding fleet, either. Point for point you get the same number of troops as a galliot fleet, but 1/3 of them are elites, and you're faster.


Sheerkhurs are less manouvreable, more vulnerable, carry less marines and have an even more guff armament. On the other hand, 4 of those marines are grimson marauders - so it effectively carries two more than the Froljir (and anyone else, for that matter), and you have access to psychics, who can further boost up your troops.

If I recall, the Hazat Galliots are actually heavier armed than the Frigates, making them better at being frigates than frigates, but at a 50% price increase.

True. The big advantage is that one the barrack decks are empty they can still make a meaningful contribution to the fight.

 

[richardcarr2]

In the last tourny I used 1 scout, 6 Galliots, 3 Stealth ships. Made this choice because shooting isn't an option vs hull 5 and I didn't fancy my chances with a bomber force.

Once you get used to the fact that you'll take more losses early on, it is really fun, if a bit risky.

Nothing can quite beat finishing an assassination mission with 5 of your opponents ships in your hands and dispatching your assassination target using his own ships.

 

[richardcarr2]

What I do like about the Al_Malik for a boarding fleet is,

(1) They have the Stealthship, good if you draw assassination, it makes a harder target, and it can take a few pot shots on the way in.

(2) The galliot has 2 90 degree turns, very useful for coming about after the initial contact.

 

[godsgopher]

Some interesting points have been raised. Ill have to reconsider boarding more carefully.

 

[locarno24]

In the last tourny I used 1 scout, 6 Galliots, 3 Stealth ships. Made this choice because shooting isn't an option vs hull 5 and I didn't fancy my chances with a bomber force.

Once you get used to the fact that you'll take more losses early on, it is really fun, if a bit risky.

Nothing can quite beat finishing an assassination mission with 5 of your opponents ships in your hands and dispatching your assassination target using his own ships.

I'd imagine a wing of stealth ships is very appropriate for assassination, anyway.

"How dare you accuse the Al-Malik of involvement in this treacherous crime! Where is your evidence? Show us any sensor footage of our house ships involved in this treachery if you can..."